Really, I’ve enough of people behaving that way! I see it all the time, everywhere: Somebody stares at their smartphone, mesmerized, is not noticing anything around them!
No matter if pedestrians, cyclists or motorists: In all of these groups are lots and lots of members who are unable to do without their phone for just five minutes.
A)
What kind of moron rides a bike hands-free and stares incessantly at the screen of a stupid pocket computer? I’ve seen enough of these. Arrogant and smug they are sitting on their e-bikes cruising at 25 km/h on the road. They would be unable to even reach for the brake if something unexpected happened. Frankly, they would not even notice until crashing into whatever obstacle – maybe an old woman trying to cross the road with her wheeled walker. You will have a bad time if you bump into me. Believe me, I’ll call the cops.
B)
How can somebody be so irresponsible and drive a car, a heavy and ultra strong (compared to the power a human body has to offer) vehicle, and have their attention on WhatsApp instead of the road. Damn! Before even sitting down behind the wheel I make sure I have one of my better days and have my attention solely on road, traffic and people. I wouldn’t even turn on the ignition of my car if I wasn’t absolutely sure I could cope with the demands of the road on any given day… and yet I have to (sitting on my bike) evade speeding cars with their drives not noticing either the yield sign or me in my yellow high-visibility jacket
C)
And you, smartphone zombie, staggering around on your feet like a drunk monkey wearing roller skates, do you have an idea what kind of feeling that is if I have to full brake the car on the main street… just because you suddenly and aimlessly reeled onto the driving surface? No, you don’t have an idea. You did not even notice that the only reason why you are still alive and unhurt is that I am not like you and am always ready to slam on the brakes.
This has become a huge problem and it is getting worse.
*Be stupid and insert very old photo (abused as meme) of newspaper reading people here*
No, it did NOT use to be like that! I remember zero incidents with people reading books, magazines or even newspapers while driving. That doesn’t say it didn’t happen – it just says the problem was not widespread. Nowadays this behavior is normal and accepted.
Damn it!